OFFICIAL RULES
Adopted 1994

1. When a celebrity dies, it is the duty of John Cowan and Jon Graney to notify one another of the celebrity's demise as soon as possible.

    1.a. If John notifies Jon of said celebrity's demise, John shall receive total credit for recognition of the dead celebrity...granted Jon was unable to contact John first.

    1.b. If Jon notifies John of said celebrity's demise, Jon shall receive total credit for recognition of the dead celebrity...granted John was unable to contact Jon first.

2. Recognition of the aforementioned "total credit" will be honored in the form of one (1) point on the official DeathWatch Tally. The point will be added to the appropriate person's column. The tally sheet will be updated every time a new corpse is correctly and promptly identified.
    2.a. Certain celebrities may be worth more than the single point mentioned above. Special point values are previously designated and are listed in descending value on the Special Point Value list.

    2.b. Certain celebrities may be worth less than the solitary point mentioned above. Special point values are previously designated and are listed in descending value on the Special Point Value list.

3. Most, but not all celebrities will qualify for recognition in the event of their demise. They are as follows:
    3.a. MUSICIANS - All matriculating rock and popular musicians shall count, including members of the respective band. Only famous singers/musicians from the past will be considered valid...i.e. Frank Sinatra counted, but Frank Sinatra's drummer would not.

    3.b. ACTORS/ACTRESSES - Generally, all matriculating, well-known actors will be valid...must have had a starring or supporting role in at least one movie and/or television show. Cameo appearances do not qualify as actor status.

      3.b.1. Talk show hosts and game show hosts count as actors, and thus may be included in the DeathWatch tally.

      3.b.2. Newscasters are considered actors. This includes magazine shows such as Dateline and 60 Minutes. Field reporters and political reporters must be discussed at the time of death to determine validity, usually based on popularity. So-called "tabloid TV" show hosts count big time, but not tabloid field reporters.

    3.c. FREAKS - All famous freaks, psychopaths and general nuts will count for inclusion. This includes Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, etc. David Koresh would have counted.

    3.d. SPECIAL- Anyone specially mentioned prior to death, and included on the DeathWatch Special Point Value list, will count. The tally sheet may include anyone; from all walks of life. Politicians and sports figures, generally not included in DeathWatch, may count if discussed and officially entered in the tally.

4. All other celebrities may still be reported, and will be discussed by John and Jon, openly, honestly and objectively. At no time may a board member deny another points for the sake of keeping a lead. Only valid arguments will be tolerated.

5.a. Notification of celebrity deaths must be done to the other member's home. This can include speaking to the other person or leaving a voice mail message on the other's answering machine.

    5.a.1. Spouses and house guests play no role in DeathWatch, and may not accept notifications on the other's behalf.

    5.a.2. Notification to a place of business, cellular phone, any e-mail account, or other means is strictly prohibitted.

5.b. Pre-emptive strike - If a member contacts the other at home, but the contactee is aware of the celebrity death and answers the phone stating who died, then the contactee becomes the notifier and receives credit for the celebrity.
    5.b.1. Likewise, if a member tries to leave the notification on an answering machine, but the outgoing message includes the dead celebrity's name, the contactee becomes the notifier and it awarded credit for the notification.

    5.b.2. Answering machine messages are left on the honor system. If the notifier hears the other's outgoing message notification, that person MUST leave a message to acknowledge his defeat.

AMENDMENTS
a.k.a. "The Bill of Pez"

I. In the case that a DeathWatch member dies, said member shall be awarded 100 points on the official DeathWatch Tally, for the benefit of not only being the first one to know of his demise, but to officially stay in the race for the remainder of surviving member's life. Thus, it is entirely possible for a member to lose to another board member who has been dead for 20 years.

II. As an approbation to Jon Graney, and in accordance with section 2.b. of the Official DeathWatch Rules, singer/songwriter James Taylor will be worth zero (0) points. As such, his name has been added to the official DeathWatch Special Point Value list. (updated 12/28/02)

III. As an approbation, and in accordance with section 2.b. of the Official DeathWatch Rules, radio commentator Paul Harvey, will be worth zero (0) points. As such, his name has been added to the official DeathWatch Special Point Value list.

IV. Indifference Amendment - (a.k.a. The "Burl Ives" Rule) - If a celebrity, who fits the description of a valid entertainer as set forth in the official rules, dies, he/she shall be worth one point. However, if both John and Jon agree that they never really cared about the entertainer, and certainly didn't care about their death, then said celebrity shall be worth zero (nil) points.

V. Ignorance Amendment - (a.k.a. The "Who?" Rule) - If one DeathWatch member announces the death of a celebrity and the other member asks, "Who?" then that celebrity shall immediately be worth zero (nil) points. If the other member can quickly jog the other's memory, point value may be assigned.

VI. "It's Our Game" Rule - At any time, an exception to ANY rule or amendment may be made by the DeathWatch members if they are in agreement. It's our game. If you don't like it, get your own game.

VII. Special Point Value List - This list has been eliminated. All celebrities, except for those mentioned in Amendments II and III, are worth one (1) point. Bob Hope has beaten us. (6/13/03)